Machine for wrapping up oranges or similar articles



Sept. 18, 1934. P. GANGLER 1,974,046

MACHINE FOR WRAPPING UP ORANGES OR SIMILAR ARTICLES Filed Sept. 23', 1932 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 PGLU\ gler :NVENTOR:

Sept. 18, 1934. P, GA NGLER 1,974,046

MACHINE FOR WRAPPING UP ORANGES OR SIMILAR ARTICLES Filed Spt. 23. 1952 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Hill];

4434 Mlormy Sept. 18, 1934-. P, N 1,974,046

MACHINE FOR WRAPPING UP CHANGES OR SIMILAR ARTICLES Filed Sept. 23. 1932 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 LNVENTOR;

'ev n Mtornay.

Sept. 18, 1934. P. GANGLER 1,974,046

MACHINE FOR- WRAPPING UP CHANGES OR SIMILAR ARTICLES Filed Sept. 25'. 1952 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 in Mtornay.

Patented Sept. 18, 1934 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE MIACHINE FOR WRAPPING UP ORANGES 0R SIMILAR ARTICLES Application September 23, 1932, Serial No. 634,458 In Germany August 26, 1932 5 Claims.

article to be wrapped up, the open projecting portion of the bag close to the body is pressed together or gathered, and then the gathered portion is twisted.

One form of, machine embodying my invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

Fig. 1 shows the upper part of the machine and Fig. 1 the lower continuation of the machine, in side-elevation, and

Figs. 2 and 2 show these parts in front-elevation, viewed from the left of Figs. 1 and 1 The wrapping paper is withdrawn as a continuous web 1 from a reel 1 which is rotatably supported by means of the shaft 2 in suitable bearings at the top of standards or side-frames 3 and 3 of the machine. The web 1' unwound from the reel 1 is passed over a resiliently mounted guide roller 4 and a likewise resiliently supported press-roller 5 past a roller .6 adapted to damp or humidify the web.

The roller 4 is adapted to rotate in levers 4 mounted on a shaft 4 This shaft is journaled in suitable bearings of uprights 4which are suitably secured to horizontal arms 3 projecting from the said standards 3 and 3'. On the shaft 4" is mounted an arm 4 controlled by a tension spring 4 provided between said arm 4 and an arm 4 secured to one of the uprights 4.

The press roller 5 is journaled in double-armed levers 101 mounted on a shaft 102. On the shaft 102 which is journaled in suitable bearings of the standards 3, 3', there is rotatably mounted a' double-armed lever 103 which is adapted to rest with its lower end bearing an anti-friction roller 104, on an eccentric 105 provided on a shaft 105*. At its upper free end, the lever 103 is provided with a tubular sleeve 106 into which is screwed a set-screw 10'7 adapted to come in contact with a suitable stop 108 provided on the said lever 101. A compression spring 109 secured-between said stop 108 and the tubular sleeve 106 serves as an elastic cushion between these two parts. The levers 101 are maintained in the position shown in Fig. 1 by a tension spring 110 secured to one of these levers and a pin 110 on the standard 3.

The above mentioned shaft 105 is rotatably supported in suitable bearings of the standards 3, 3' and continuously rotated by well known means, for instance by a suitable and known chain gear similar to the chain gear 6 which will be hereinafter described, from the driving shaft 9*. During each revolution of the eccentric 105 mounted on said shaft 105, a rocking motion is imparted to the lever 103, whereby the levers 101 are likewise rocked, so that the press roller 5 is temporarily raised off the damping roller 6 and again lowered upon it. By turning the setscrew 10'7 clockwise or anti-clockwise, the lever 103 is turned to an easily adjustable extent, so that the roller 104 is also displaced in regard to the eccentric 105 in such a way that it remains in contact with the ascending surface of this eccentric for a longer or shorter period, whereby it is possible to regulate also the duration of the contact of the pressing roller 5 with the damping roller 6, and thus to determine accurately the amount of feed of the web of paper.

The damping roller 6 is mounted for rotation in a tank 6 filled with water by means of a shaft 6? and is continuously driven by chain gear 6 from the shaft 9. This shaft is rotatably mounted in suitable bearings of brackets 121 secured to the standards 3, 3, and is continuously driven by suitable and known means by the driving shaft 60, Figs. 1 and 2* for instance by a suitable and known chain gear, not shown.

The paper web 1 is then passed over a further guide roller '7 and between a pair of drawing rollers 8 and 9. The roller 8 is with its shaft 117 rotatably supported in two. lever arms 120v (one being shown only in Fig. 1 which are secured to a shaft 116 which is rotatably mounted in suitable b'earings of the brackets 121. The roller 9 is continuously rotated by the said shaft 9 on which it is mounted. After having passed the rollers 8 and 9, the web 1' comes within the reach of a suitable severing mechanism which consists in the well known manner of the movable knife 10 secured to and oscillated by means of the operating levers 10 and the stationary counterknife 11 secured to the machine frame.

If desired, one of the above mentioned levers 101 may be connected by means of a link 112 with a bell-cranklever 113v which is pivotally mounted on the bolt 113 secured to the standard 3 and the other end of which is engaged by arod 114 pivoted to a hand-lever 115 which is formed by an extension of one of the aforesaid supporting levers for the roller 8. If, in the event of a breakdown, or when stopping the machine, it is 110 roller cannot stick to the paper.

desired to render the feed of the web 1' inoperative, the hand-lever 115 is in the direction of the arrow, Fig. 1 turned towards the right, whereby it raises by means of the levers 120 the roller 8 off the roller 9. Simultaneously, the roller 5 is lifted off the damping roller 6 by means of the linkwork 114, 113, 112, 101 and thus also removes the web of paper 1' from the roller 6 so that this A further advance of the web 1' is thus stopped instantly.

From the severing device 10, 11 the wrapping ,paper 1", Figs. 2 and 2 which has been cut off by said device to the respective length, travels past a vertical wall 12 which is secured to a bracket 12*, downwards into 'a trough-like receptacle or pocket 13 which is also fixed to the bracket 12 by means of angle pieces 13, the trough together with a sheet iron plate 12 secured to the brackets 121 (Fig. 1) and the wall 12 forming a guiding shaft 13.

The wall 12 is in its central portion designed as a matrix whose passage opening 14 corresponds substantially to the largest diameter of the oranges to be wrapped up. At the rear-side of the matrix opening 14, there are pivotally mounted a plurality of spaced folding strips 15 and 16, which are preferably formed of sheet irons, in hinges 17, 18 provided at the back of the wall 12. These folding strips are adapted to give way easily and each of them is suitably tapered at its free operative edge extending into the matrix opening 14, so that all strips lie close together with their tapering ends. The folding strips 15 are longer and displaced in relation to the strips 16 so that two uniformly formed annular members are provided. Against the folding strips15 press from.outside leaf springs 19 so that the complete folding mechanism 15, 16 radially arranged in a circle has the tendency to take up the position shown in Fig. l The individual folding strips extend into the matrix opening 14 in such a manner that the opening left between their operative edges is of considerable smaller diameter than the matrix opening 14.

The individual oranges O or the like are conveyed to the matrix opening 14, in the well known manner, in a suitable feed channel which is generally indicated at 20 and which opposite this opening 14 is provided with an extension or branch 20. The oranges O are pushed through the matrix by means of a reciprocating plunger 21, the wrapping paper 1" kept in readiness in the said shaft 13 in the path of the feed motion being carried along by it. Such plungers and their operating mechanisms are well known in the art and, therefore, need no further description or illustration. For instance, the plunger 21 may be operated in the same manner as described hereinafter and illustrated for the pushrod 38, i. e. by means corresponding to the members 55, 57, 58, 59, 61 from a suitable eccentric of the shaft 60, the member corresponding to lever 55 being, however, pivoted at its upper end to the pushrod 21 in a suitable and well known manner. The individual folding strips 15, 16 are swung by the passage of the orange outwards against the yielding resistance of the springs 19, so that they fold the wrapping paper closely around the orange.

, After the largest diameter of the orange has been up that a bag or small sack 25 is formed in which the orange is snugly embedded, as is clearly shown in Fig. 1 by dotted lines.

After having traversed the matrix 14, the orange wrapped up in this way is pushed by the member 21 within the reach of a rotary mecha nism, which in the illustrated embodiment consists of gripper jaws 26, 27 which are preferably provided with elastic linings 28, 29. The gripper jaws 26, 27 are secured to bell-crank levers 30, 31 which are mounted on pins 32, 33 that are journaled in a support 40, so that the bell-crank levers 30, 31 are adapted to rock. Ordinarily, these levers are, however, maintained in the position shown in Fig. 1 by a tension spring extending between the levers 30, 31. To the inner faces of the bell-crank levers 30, 31 are secured leaf springs 65, 66 which with their free ends meet under an obtuse angle. The free ends of the bell-crank levers 30, 31 are coupied. by toothed quadrants 34, 35, which mesh with each other. On the pivot 32 of the bell-crank lever 30 there is also mounted an arm 36 with an abutment surface 37 adapted to cooperate with the head 39 of a pushrod 38. The above mentioned support 40 is provided at one end of an axle 41 carrying at its other end a pinion 42. The axle 41 is provided with an axialbore in which the said pushrod 38 is adapted to be reciprocated. With the said pinion 42 meshes a rack 43 which by means of a bracket 44 secured to it is connected with a bell-crank lever 46 by a connecting rod 45, Fig. 2 The lever 46 is adapted to rock upon a suitable pivot pin 47 which is secured to the machine frame, and at its other end is pivoted to an operating rod 48, which in its turn is connected to a double-armed lever 49 which is rotatably mounted by a bolt 131 in a bracket 132 and adapted to -be reciprocated by means of the anti-friction bowl 50, Fig. 1*, from a suitable eccentric 51 keyed to is driven in any well known manner, for instance by an electric motor, not shown.

Against the free end of the said pushrod 38 abuts an arm 55 mounted on a rotatable shaft 56 which is supported in the bearing 56 of a bracket 56 secured to the machine frame. On this shaft 56 is also mounted an arm 57 connected to an operating rod 58 the other end of which is engaged by a bell-crank lever 59 rotatably mounted on a rod 130 and resting by means of a roller 61 upon the periphery of an eccentric 62 keyed to the driving shaft 60.

Between the matrix 14 and the gripper jaws 26, 27 there are arranged two members adapted to. approach each other and to gather up the bag-like portion 25 of the wrapper and to center it in relation to the longitudinal axis. These members may consist of angular bars 75, 76, the upper angular piece being bifurcated, see in particular Fig. 1*, so that the lower angular piece 76 is able to enter into the fork of the upper angle 75. The members 75, 76 are mounted on supporting arms 77, 78 projecting from sleeves 79, 80. These sleeves are adapted to slide along a vertically mounted guide rod 81 secured to the machine frame. The sleeves 79, carry rollers 82, 83 which are'embraced by the forked ends of bell-crank levers 84, 85.' These levers are adapted to rock upon pins 86, 87 secured to the bracket 95 suitably mounted on the machine frame, and are provided with toothed quadrants 88, 89 meshing with each other. The bell-crank lever is also provided with an extension 90 engaged by an operating rod 91 which is pivoted to a ouble-armed lever 92. This lever is rotatably mounted on the rod 130 and is adapted to be reciprooated by means of an anti-friction bowl 93 in the well known manner by the inner suitably cam shaped periphery of a drum like eccentric 94 keyed to the driving shaft 60.

The mode of operation of the described wrapping mechanism is as follows:

The plunger 21 pushes on its operation the orange 0 from the feed channel 20 together with the wrapping paper 1" standing in readiness in the trough 13 through the opening 14 of the matrix between the gripper jaws 26, 27 which are open at this time while the folding strips 15, 16 encircling the said opening 14 have folded the wrapping paper 1 to form the bag 25 around the orange 0 during its passage through the opening 14. After the'gripper jaws 26, 27 have been closed by their described operating mechanism, the angular members 75, 76 are moved by their operating mechanism to approach each other, where-by they lay hold of the portion of the bag 25 projecting beyond the orange and gather or fold it together. In direct continuation of this gathering operation, the shaft d1 carrying the gripper jaws 26, 27 is rotated by means of the pinion 42 meshing with the rack 43, the projecting end 25 of the wrapping paper 1" being thus subjected to a strong twist. After the end 25 has been twisted, the angular members 75, 76 are withdrawn by their operating mechanism, and the arm 55 is operated to push the rod 38 with its head 39 against the abutment 37 of the lever 36 which is thereby moved in such a way that the lever 30 swings outwards and the lever 31 is also swung outwards by means of the toothed quadrants 34, 35. The jaws 26, 27'with their elastic linings 28, 29 thereby release the wrapped up orange which passes to a suitable storage receptable along the discharge trough or chute 100.

It will be readily understood that various structural modifications may be made in the machine without departing from the spirit of my invention and the scope of the appended claims.

I claim as my invention:

1. In a machine of the type'specified, in combination, a folding matrix having a central open-.

ing, means for conveying a wrapping sheet in front of said matrix, twisting means arranged behind and co-axial with said opening and adapted to receive and to rotate the article to be wrapped up, means adapted to move the said article together with the wrapping sheet through the opening of the matrix causing the wrapping sheet to be folded in the shape of a bag around the article, and into said rotary twisting means, i

and means arranged between said matrix and said rotary means and adapted to seize and gather the open projecting endof said bag and to hold the gathered end during the rotation of said twisting means, said twisting means comprising a head on a driving shaft, means for rotating said shaft, two bell-cranklevers pivoted on said head and provided with gripping jaws, spring means provided to pull said two bell-crank levers together, and means adapted to swing said two levers outwards, said latter means comprising a pushrod slidably mounted in a central axial bore of the said driving shaft and adapted to push against an operating lever arm rigidly connected with one of said bell-crank levers, and means adapted to displace the pushrod against the action of the said spring means.

2. In a machine of the type specified, the com- I bination of folding means consisting of a matrix having a central passage and a plurality of yielding folding fingers radially encircling. said passage to fold a wrapping sheet in the shape of a bag open at one'end around the article to be wrapped, means adapted to gather the open projecting portion of the bag close to the said article, and means adapted to twist the gathered portion of the wrapper, said folding fingers being arranged in two groups having fingers of different lengths, the fingers of the two groups being pivotally mounted in two concentric circles at the rear side of the matrix and the inner operating edges of all fingers making contact with each other and forming a substantially smaller circle than the opening of the matrix, springs being provided to press upon the group of longer fingers overlying the group of shorter fingers so as to hold all folding fingers in operative position.

3. In a machine of the type specified, the combination of folding means comprising a matrix having :a central opening for the passage of the article to be wrapped and a plurality of yielding folding fingers to fold around the article and while it is passing through said opening a wrapping sheet in the shape of a bag open at one end, means adapted to gather the. open projecting portion of the bag close to the said article, and means adapted to twist the gathered portion of the wrapper, said yielding folding fingers being mounted to extend immediately behind the opening of the matrix, the distance between said fingers and the matrix being less than the diameter of the article, said fingers extending substantially parallel to the plane of and vertically toward the central axis of said opening, and the inner operating edges of the fingers forming a substantially smaller circle than the said opening immediately in the rear of said opening.

4. In a machine of the type specified, the conibination of folding means comprising a matrix having a circular opening for the passage of the article to be wrapped and the wrapper, a plurality of folding fingers behind said opening, said folding fingers being in the form of thin strips the adjacent edges of which contact at the circumference of the matrix opening and extend from the circumference in overlapping relation to one another and obliquely towards the center of the matrix opening forming immediately behind the latter an annular surface. theoutside diameter of which is substantially equal to that of the matrix opening and the opening of which is smaller, said fingers being radially moved by the article to be wrapped in the direction of its -movements, a rotary element for receiving the article after its passage through the opening formed by the folding fingers, means for gathering close to the article the projecting portion of the bag into which the wrapper has been folded around the article, and means including said rotary element to twist said gathered portion.

5. A machine according to claim 4 and in which said folding fingers form two adjacent concentric annular surfaces, the fingers forming one surface being displaced with respect to the fingers forming the other surface, and springs bearing against the fingers of the surface farther removed from the matrix opening for holding the fingers of both surfaces in operating position.

PAUL GANGLER. 

